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"Why all the trees?" I asked

"Dad’s idea," Debbie said "He loves Christet one for every room in the house The ornaments are in little boxes underneath" - she pointed to a box under the tree - "and we open them on Christmas Eve and decorate the trees It’s a nice way to pass the night, and it tires you out, so you fall asleep almost as soon as your head hits the pillows"

"It sounds like fun," I agreed wistfully, re what it had been like to decorate the Christmas tree at home with my family

Debbie studied me silently "You could come over on Christmas Eve," she said "You and Evra Your dad, too You could help us with the trees"

I stared at her "You mean that?"

"Sure I’d have to check with Mom and Dad first, but I doubt if they’d mind We’ve had friends over to help before It’s nicer with more people"

I was happy that she’d asked

"Should I ask them?" she said

"I’m not sure if I’ll still be here at Christoes wherever the job takes him, whenever"

"Well, the offer’s there," she said "If you’re here, great If not," - she shrugged - "we’llabout Christet the CD player for Evra?" Debbie asked

"Yeah And a few CDs, too"

"That just leaves your dad," she said "What are you getting hiht like I wasn’t going to buy hi - he’d only turn up his nose at presents - but it was interesting to consider what I could buy him What was there that a vampire could possibly be interested in?

I started to set him a sun lamp"

"A sun laan to laugh "He’s pretty pale He doesn’t getso hard I would have liked to let her in on the joke - it would be worth buying the sun lausted expression on the vampire’s face - but didn’t dare

"You have a weird sense of humor," she muttered, bewildered

"Trust me," I said, "if you knewto tell Evra about ot home: he’d be able to appreciate it

We chatted for another hour or so Then it was tio

"Well?" Debbie said, as I stood up "Don’t I get a good-night kiss?"

I thought I was going to collapse

"I u wreck

"Don’t you want to kiss asped quickly "It’s just I u "I don’t care one way or the other" She got up "I’ll show you out"

We walked quickly down the stairs I wanted to say goodbye to Jesse and Donna, but Debbie didn’t give ht to the front door and opened it I was still trying to get back intoto find the left arm of the coat

"Sure, if you want to," she said

"Look, Debbie," I said, "I’m sorry I didn’t kiss you I’

"Yeah," I adhed "Okay," she said "You can come over tomorroant you to Only, next time be a little braver, okay?" And she closed the door behind me